What Was the Best Mosconi Cup Shot Ever Made?

On day 2 of this year`s Mosconi Cup, with the match tied and both on the hill 4-4,
Shane Van Boening made a tremendous power shot on the 4-ball and drove
the ball the length of the table to get shape and allow the runout and win.
Amazing shot. Shane called it "the best shot of my life."

Could someone provide a link to this shot? I believe it belongs in this thread.

Thanks in advance.

Will Prout
 
ibuycues said:
On day 2 of this year`s Mosconi Cup, with the match tied and both on the hill 4-4,
Shane Van Boening made a tremendous power shot on the 4-ball and drove
the ball the length of the table to get shape and allow the runout and win.
Amazing shot. Shane called it "the best shot of my life."

Could someone provide a link to this shot? I believe it belongs in this thread.

Thanks in advance.

Will Prout
Click to expand...

It does not belong in this thread. It was a fine shot at a key moment but I feel Shane would execute it as he did at least one time out of three and perhaps more often than that.

I'd say Appleton's cut in of the two ball (a shot that Shane declined after Darren's push) at 2-2 in Monday's final match was a better shot than Shane's. That was also a crucial match that would determine who would end Day 1 with the lead in the Mosconi and that was the shot that put Europe in charge of that match.
 
sjm said:
It does not belong in this thread. It was a fine shot at a key moment but I feel Shane would execute it as he did at least one time out of three and perhaps more often than that.

I'd say Appleton's cut in of the two ball (a shot that Shane declined after Darren's push) at 2-2 in Monday's final match was a better shot than Shane's. That was also a crucial match that would determine who would end Day 1 with the lead in the Mosconi and that was the shot that put Europe in charge of that match.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

Appleton going for and pocketing that 2 ball was a great shot -- but it wasn't nearly as pressure packed as was Shane's. Darren could have even missed that ball and gotten safe. He definitely wasn't thinking to himself that if he missed the ball the chances of his team winning the Cup would be practically zero. Of course Shane may not have thought these exact thoughts either, but I'm certain he instinctively knew how important that match was.

Darren's shot was a free roll at a tough shot -- a shot that he didn't have to make.

Shane's shot was do or die.

That shot certainly belongs in this thread.
 
BasementDweller said:
I disagree.

Appleton going for and pocketing that 2 ball was a great shot -- but it wasn't nearly as pressure packed as was Shane's. Darren could have even missed that ball and gotten safe. He definitely wasn't thinking to himself that if he missed the ball the chances of his team winning the Cup would be practically zero. Of course Shane may not have thought these exact thoughts either, but I'm certain he instinctively knew how important that match was.

Darren's shot was a free roll at a tough shot -- a shot that he didn't have to make.

Shane's shot was do or die.

That shot certainly belongs in this thread.
Click to expand...

I fully agree with you Basement Dweller. Appleton`s shot was a good one, but Shane`s shot was memorable. I would bet a beer many may already not even remember Darren`s shot that you mentioned, but most know Shane`s shot and will not be forgetting it. :sorry:

Will Prout
 
BasementDweller said:
I disagree.

Appleton going for and pocketing that 2 ball was a great shot -- but it wasn't nearly as pressure packed as was Shane's. Darren could have even missed that ball and gotten safe. He definitely wasn't thinking to himself that if he missed the ball the chances of his team winning the Cup would be practically zero. Of course Shane may not have thought these exact thoughts either, but I'm certain he instinctively knew how important that match was.

Darren's shot was a free roll at a tough shot -- a shot that he didn't have to make.

Shane's shot was do or die.

That shot certainly belongs in this thread.
Click to expand...

Shane's was definitely the higher pressure shot, but this thread is not about who hit the most clutch shot, it's about who hit the best shot, the one requiring the highest level of skill. Nether Appleton's shot nor Shane's shot measures up to the best ever shots in the Mosconi, but Darren's was, in my opinion, the more difficult and the fact that Shane didn't like it enough to shoot it speaks volumes. It wasn't a free shot at all, but instead one in which a scratch was a major issue, and that's why Shane gave the push back.

Free roll, LOL!
 
sjm said:
Shane's was definitely the higher pressure shot, but this thread is not about who hit the most clutch shot, it's about who hit the best shot, the one requiring the highest level of skill. Nether Appleton's shot nor Shane's shot measures up to the best ever shots in the Mosconi, but Darren's was, in my opinion, the more difficult and the fact that Shane didn't like it enough to shoot it speaks volumes. It wasn't a free shot at all, but instead one in which a scratch was a major issue, and that's why Shane gave the push back.

Free roll, LOL!
Click to expand...

I really like Corey's shot....and what it implies.
Corey pushed out to it...knowing full well it would be given back...
...and knowing full well that he was the only player in the field that could
get it done under heat.
 
sjm said:
Shane's was definitely the higher pressure shot, but this thread is not about who hit the most clutch shot, it's about who hit the best shot, the one requiring the highest level of skill. Nether Appleton's shot nor Shane's shot measures up to the best ever shots in the Mosconi, but Darren's was, in my opinion, the more difficult and the fact that Shane didn't like it enough to shoot it speaks volumes. It wasn't a free shot at all, but instead one in which a scratch was a major issue, and that's why Shane gave the push back.

Free roll, LOL!
Click to expand...

This thread is about the following according to the OP:

I would be very interested to hear what AZers believe is the best Mosconi Cup single shot ever made by a USA player.
Click to expand...

What constitutes being the "best shot" is open for discussion. You added the part about it "requiring the highest level of skill". If you want it to be the most difficult shot -- then it is probably Corey's shot and we can just close the thread. But if it's the BEST shot then there are more factors to consider than just the level of difficulty. Pressure is a big one for me.

I say that Darren's shot was a free roll not in the sense that it wasn't a very difficult shot but more so in the psychological sense of him knowing that it wasn't an all or nothing proposition. In my pathetic amateur existence, I've faced what I consider to be very difficult shots but after surveying the situation I realized I really had nothing to lose by going for it. Even if Darren missed that shot, or even scratched I don't think it would have bothered him much because he knew he would live to fight another day.

Shane's shot was different. He had to come with it there or the U.S.'s Mosconi Cup hopes would go down the drain. This is what makes pool and really all of sports so compelling. It's not just the action of the participant; it's the action in the midst of all the noise. Noise that is both in the arena and in one's own mind, and it's the pressure of the moment. When you take all of that into account, I consider Shane's shot to be one of the best I've ever seen in the Mosconi Cup.

It's been reported that Shane said, "It was the best shot of my life." Surely, he's pocketed more difficult balls but it’s quite possible that he’s never hit a better shot.
 
im sorry if i missed it but could someone show a link to shanes shot
thanks
 
BasementDweller said:
This thread is about the following according to the OP:



What constitutes being the "best shot" is open for discussion. You added the part about it "requiring the highest level of skill". If you want it to be the most difficult shot -- then it is probably Corey's shot and we can just close the thread. But if it's the BEST shot then there are more factors to consider than just the level of difficulty. Pressure is a big one for me.

I say that Darren's shot was a free roll not in the sense that it wasn't a very difficult shot but more so in the psychological sense of him knowing that it wasn't an all or nothing proposition. In my pathetic amateur existence, I've faced what I consider to be very difficult shots but after surveying the situation I realized I really had nothing to lose by going for it. Even if Darren missed that shot, or even scratched I don't think it would have bothered him much because he knew he would live to fight another day.

Shane's shot was different. He had to come with it there or the U.S.'s Mosconi Cup hopes would go down the drain. This is what makes pool and really all of sports so compelling. It's not just the action of the participant; it's the action in the midst of all the noise. Noise that is both in the arena and in one's own mind, and it's the pressure of the moment. When you take all of that into account, I consider Shane's shot to be one of the best I've ever seen in the Mosconi Cup.

It's been reported that Shane said, "It was the best shot of my life." Surely, he's pocketed more difficult balls but it’s quite possible that he’s never hit a better shot.
Click to expand...

I think you are underestimating the pressure of the moment in the case of Appleton. An overnight lead for a US Team that hasn't won in years would have been huge, especially in a psychological sense, and the tension of Match 5 on day one was high because Europe surely didn't want to end the session trailing. This was the defining moment of the first day's play, and Darren found a way to make a shot that Shane wanted no part of.

Would a Darren miss have cost the match? Who knows? You, similarly, can't say that a miss by Shane in Match 10 would have left a shot and you can't say that if it did, Europe would have run out. You just don't know.

Two great clutch shots by two great players. I'm happy to leave it at that.
 
Time for Updates....

ibuycues said:
Hi All,

As the latest Mosconi Cup rapidly approaches, I would be very interested to hear what AZers believe is the best Mosconi Cup single shot ever made by a USA player. I remember a crazy, stunning draw on a full length 2 ball made by Corey Deuel several years ago (2002?) that was so hard to make with shape that he had just pushed out to the spot of the cue ball after the break shot and was handed back the shot by the opponent.

What are your thoughts? And if possible, link to where the shot can be seen. I know there have been some outstanding, unbelievable shots made under extreme pressure.

Will Prout
Click to expand...

It has been several years since I first started this thread, and found it to be great fun, both entertaining and substantive,
and even with a couple of sparks.

With several additional years under our collective belt, and some stellar, memorable shots in the intervening interval,
it would be enjoyable to see what shots should be added to our conversation....timely, with this year’s Mosconi Cup soon upon us.

Will Prout
 
Last edited:
ibuycues said:
It has been several years since I first started this thread, and found it to be great fun, both entertaining and substantive,
and even with a couple of sparks.

With several additional years under our collective belt, and some stellar, memorable shots in the intervening interval,
it would be enjoyable to see what shots should be added to our conversation....timely, with this year’s Mosconi Cup soon upon us.

Will Prout
Click to expand...

The shot that gets immediate entry into the conversation is Skyler Woodward's jump shot of the one ball with shape at double hill against Albin Ouschan in 2018. It was as clutch a shot as I think we'll ever see at the Mosconi. Europe trailed 9-6 and Shaw would play Styer next, so it sure looked like Europe was about to pull within 9-8, but Skyler changed the script and it set up Team USA for its first victory in nine years.
 
I've attended 4 of them here in America. The best shot I witnessed was Sky vs Albin, I think it was the first year they both played, 2015?. Albin had no shot, he had to kick the long rail and hit his ball down the rail I believe. I've watched the video, it doesn't capture the moment because you can't hear the sound of the room. The shot clock was blaring, time was running out, fans were yelling, Albin is down, looks like he is about to fall asleep. I'm like WTF is this guy doing, then BLAM! he blasts the ball, it actually gets a little air as it hits the top rail, comes down and perfectly pockets the ball. AMAZING.
 
sjm said:
The shot that gets immediate entry into the conversation is Skyler Woodward's jump shot of the one ball with shape at double hill against Albin Ouschan in 2018. It was as clutch a shot as I think we'll ever see at the Mosconi. Europe trailed 9-6 and Shaw would play Styer next, so it sure looked like Europe was about to pull within 9-8, but Skyler changed the script and it set up Team USA for its first victory in nine years.
Click to expand...

I agree, Stu, that was a great one by Skylar.

Another fun one from Corey was some years back in a crucial spot when he was teamed up with Mike Dechaine and he got snookered up by the top rail and was forced to jump and boy did he come with a shot. So much so that he pots the ball then whitey jumps up on the topside of the rail surely going overboard heading to the floor but no, somehow it finds gravity pulling it back down onto the playing surface and the celebration was priceless.

I wonder if anyone could post a link to that one.

best,
brian kc
 
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